Cotton picker&#39;s bag



June 24, 1952 M. A. TATOM coTTo'N PICKER'S BAG Filed Deo v) I N VEN TOR. w Manif/l. 7h Ton (y 0f V A T TORN E Y www .. .i ...um f.

Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON PICKERS BAG Mamie A. Tatom, Greenville, Miss.

Application December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,509

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bag adapted to be used by cotton pickers.

In picking cotton, the worker carries along a bag which is filled with the cotton as it is picked. This bag, when filled with cotton, is very heavy and therefore requires considerable strength to empty the bag. After the bag is filled, there must be a closure means for preventing spilling of the contents of the bag during `the Ahauling and weighing operations. Also the cotton picker is paid according to the weight of cotton picked and this weighing operation is accomplished by scales which must be hung or suspended from a sup port in order to be in the weighers line of vision. Further, the cotton pickers bag should be constructed so that tampering or pilfering is not possible. It has been found that the cotton pickers bag of the present invention will overcome these difficulties, and many others.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a cotton pickers bag which can be readily opened so that the contents thereof can be emptied without the necessity of lifting the entire bag. s

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag which is adapted to be filled with cotton, closed, and which can be conveniently suspended from a weighers scale.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cotton pickers bag which is easily identifiable and is constructed to provide a maximum of comfort to the cotton picker in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cotton pickers bag which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bag, with parts broken away and in section, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view illustrating the bag in folded position and adapted to be hung from a weighers scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view illustrating the slide fasteners for gaining access to the interior of the bag;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view takenon the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Cil

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view illustrating certain constructional details of the bag;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the cotton pickers bag is made of suitable flexible material, and is fabricated by folding a body mem ber 20 along a transverse crease line 2| to provide a pair of side members 22 and 23. Side members 22 and 23 have a pair of their adjacent longitudinal edges folded inwardly, as at 24, and a suitable line of stitching 25 secures the folded portions together, Figure 4.

The opposite edge of the side member 23 is folded back upon itself, as at 26, and the adjacent edge of the side member 22 is also folded back upon itself, as at 21, so that a longitudinally-extending side opening or space is defined between the folded edges 26 and 21. A slide fastener or Zipper 28 extends between the folded portions 26 and 21, and the slide fastener includes a movable member 29 provided with an opening 30 for a purpose to be later described, The slide fastener is adapted to be opened in order to gain access to the interior of the bag in order to facilitate the emptying of the bag. For preventing cotton from becoming entangled in the slide fastener 28, a shield or guard 3| is provided. The shield 3l embodies overlying strips 32 of suitable material having therebetween a plurality of spaced parallel reinforcing stays. A first cover portion 34 extends longitudinally along one edge of the strip 32 and a suitable line of stitching 35 secures one side of the shield 3| to the side member 22. A second cover portion I9 is secured by a suitable line of stitching 36 to the other side of the shield 3l. Secured to the bottom of the bag by suitable wire and cord 31 is a metal ring 38 for a purpose to be later described.

When the bag is being filled with cotton, the top is opened by means of a slide fastener or r,ripper 39 which connects the upper adjacent ends of the side members 22 and 23 together. The slide fastener 39 embodies a movable member 40 which is provided with an aperture or opening 4l. A suitable padlock 42 is adapted to simultaneously engage the opening 4| on the movable member 40 and the opening 30 in the movable member 29 `in order to protect the contents of the bag. A

tongue 43 is secured to the top of the bag and the tongue 43 carries a hook 44 for engagement with the opening 30 in the movable member 29 while the bag is being filled with cotton, so that the slide fastener will not accidentally open. When the bag is not being filled, the hook 44 is not needed and may be arranged in engagement with an eye 45 which projects from the top of the bag, Figure 3.

For carrying the bag along during the filling thereof, a shoulder strap 46 is provided and the strap 46 has a portion thereof filled with suitable padding 4T, Figure 6, in order to provide maximum comfort for the worker. The length of the shoulder strap 45 can be varied as desired. Thus,

the strap 45 comprises an end section 48 which is 'secured by stitching 49 to a flap 55B that projects from the upper end of the bag. The end section 48 carries a suitable buckle 5| which is provided with a pivotally-mounted catch member 52. A second end section 53 of greater length than the end section 48 is secured to the other end of the flap 50 by stitching 54, and the free end of the section 53 has secured thereto by stitching 55 a strap 56 provided with a plurality of spaced holes 51 for selectively receiving the catch member 52. Only the outer edges of the strip 5B are secured to the endv section 53 so that the catch member 52' does not project through the end section 53, but only extends through the proper hcle 5'! in the strip 56.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a highly eiiicient cotton pickers bag has been provided. The bag. includes a pair of slide fasteners 28 and Y 3Q which are adapted to come together when the bag is lled so that a lock 42 can be engaged with openings 39 and 4l in the movable members of the slide fastener; The bag is sturdily constructed and will hold up under rugged working conditions.

Further, 'the arrangement of the slide fasteners provides a ready means for emptying the bag. This is important, because when lled, a 9-foot cotton pickers bag will hold from 150 to 180 pounds of seed-cotton (unginned cotton), and as the bag is only 29 inches wide so as to fit between the rows of cotton, the cotton must be packed hard toV cram this much cotton in the bag. Therefore, a formidable emptying problem is created. No physical weakling can empty the bags. 1t is a strenuous job, requiring Herculean strength, and evenY the strongest have been known to suffer permanent physical injury from the strain of so arduous a task. Therefore, to nd and keep a hired man for this job is a problem that constantly plagues the farmer.

The side opening, with the slide fastener 28, solves this problem for all concerned and in an ideal manner. There are no loose pieces of metal to be lost in the cotton to create a re hazard when ginning the cotton, the lock and key being the only detachable pieces of metal, and these would automatically be pocketed before the bag was even opened. Y

rhe slide fastener 39 across the top of the bag fullls two purposes, namely, a means for locking the bag, and means for closing during the hauling and weighing operations to prevent spillage of the contents of the bag.

The padlock on each bag protects the picker from the petty thieving practices in the elds. Also, his mind is relieved of the tension of a mind filled with suspicions of his fellow-pickers. knows that his pickings are secured from lching, and he can, therefore, concentrate on his job of picking. The picker is paid by the hundredweight, which makes any pilfering of the contents of his bag before it is weighed equivalent to stealing out of his pay envelope` The hook 44 at the top of the side opening is adapted to engage with the opening 30 in the movabie member and prevents accidental slipping of the side Talon slide fastener during the picking operations While the top is open for receiving the cotton.

The ring 38 in the bottom corner is for slipping over the hook 59, Figure 2, on the scales, when Stringing the bag up for the weighing process, and the stuffed bag is bent or folded along a transverse crease line until it is possible to hook the strap 4tv on the scale hook 53, which operation will swing the bag clear of all obstacles and ready for weighing.

The guard or shield 3! behind the slide fastener 23 is to prevent the cotton lint from becoming entangled in the fastener and thus obstructing the smooth operation of the movable member 29.

The padded shoulder strap 4t is provided for the comfort of the picker. The shoulder bears the weight of the dragging bag during the picking operation, and it becomes heavier and heavier as the bag is filled, even to the point where it is very difficult to drag, and the padded strap prevents cutting and chang across the shoulder which becomes very sensitive before the end of the cotton picking season.

The adjustability of the shoulder strap 46 also is for the comfort of the picker. Thus, in use, the length of the arms vary with the pickers. There can be no standard length for the shoulder stra/p, but it must be made so that it can be adjusted to Suit the picker. The top opening in the bag should be at an easy arms reach for accurate and continual depositing of each handful of cotton into the bag witho-ut the necessity of looking back. The eyes are for spotting the next closest bolls to be picked in the next handful.

Suitable serial numbers 58 are imprinted on the exterior of the bag and are essential for conserving weighing time Iby quick identification of the ownership of the pickings when strung up for weighing, and to furnish a method by which the farmer can take a daily inventory of his bags. Further, the l'oss of cotton through stealing will be greatly reduced by identifying the bags by serial numbers.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merelyras illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

claim:

1. In a cotton pickers bag, an elongated body member folded along a transverse crease lin-e to define a pair of side members of equal length, said side members having a pair of their adjacent longitudinal edges secured together, one of said side members having a greater width than that of the other side member, the free longitudinal edge portion of the said one side member being folded over to dispose its edge in spaced parallel relation with respect to the like edge of said other side member, a first slide fastener interconnecting the free longitudinal edges of said members together, and a second slide fastener interconnecting the free end edges of said side members together.

2. The invention as set forth inA claim 1, with a tongue secured to the bag at the end of one or" said free end edges which is adjacent to a free longitudinal edge, a hook on said tongue, and adapted for engagement in a hole in the movable member of said first slide fastener.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, with an elongate iiat guard member disposed within the bag along the length of said free longitudinal edge portions and secured throughout its length to one of said edge portions, said guard overlying and shielding the inner side of the rst slide fastener when the said free longitudinal edges are joined together thereby.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein said guard comprises spaced strips of material joined together along their longitudinal edges and a plurality of spaced parallel reinforcing stays disposed .between said strips of material.

MAMIE A. 'IATOM` 15 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,383,956 Kiley et al. July 5, 1921 1,557,382 Sundback Oct. 13, 1925 1,631,694 Rick June 7, 1927 1,707,869 Mitchell Apr. 2, 1929` 1,725,093 Maksik Aug. 20, 1929 1,792,582 Goldsmith Feb. 17, 1931 1,895,208 Salavsky Jan. 24, 1933 2,385,053 Bohn Sept. 18, 1945 2,474,495 Pollak June 28, 1949 

